Few Canadians meet minimum recommended physical activity standard
Posted January 19, 2011 8:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA, Ont. – We’re a nation of couch potatoes.
Only 15 per cent of Canadians meet the minimum recommended standard of physical activity each week, according to a new survey from Statistics Canada.
The study found only seven per cent of those between the ages of five and 17 are attaining the minimum level of exercise.
The results also showed that both adults and young people are sedentary for most of their waking hours. Adults spend an average of nine and a half hours, while children spend about eight and a half hours engaged in lazy activities, such as watching television, per day.
Under new international and proposed Canadian guidelines, adults will be advised to get at least two and a half hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, while they suggest young people get at least an hour.
Currently, only about five per cent of Canadian adults spend two and a half hours exercising per week, equating to about 30 minutes at least five days a week.
